We’ve all heard the classic Christmas song “Jingle Bells” or “One Horse Open Sleigh” as it was originally titled!
Jingle Bells is one of the oldest and best loved Christmas songs and was written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857. Since then it has grown into the song we know today and now you can learn to play it on the kalimba!
This kalimba tab is in the key of C Major to save you having to re-tune any of the tines. Be sure to check out my guide to reading kalimba tabs if you’re unsure how to read them.
Notation & Tuning Key
Below is the key showing the numbered and lettered notation for each tine on kalimba. The notes that are used in this song are bolded for reference. This key assumes you are using a standard 17 tine kalimba.
| 2° | 7° | 5° | 3° | 1° | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 2° | 4° | 6° | 1°° | 3°° |
| D° | B° | G° | E° | C° | A | F | D | C | E | G | B | D° | F° | A° | C°° | E°° |
Jingle Bells Numbered Notation
Here is the numbered notation kalimba tab for Jingle Bells.
5 3° 2° 1° 5
Dash-ing through the snow
5 5 5 3° 2° 1° 6
In a one-horse op-en sleigh
6 4° 3° 2° 7
O'er the fields we go
5° 5° 4° 2° 3°
Laugh-ing all the way
5 3° 2° 1° 5
Bells on bob-tail ring
5 3° 2° 1° 6
Mak-ing spir-its bright
6 6 4° 3° 2° 5° 5° 5°
what fun it is to ride and sing
5° 6° 5° 4° 2° 1°
A sleigh-ing song to-night!
5°
Oh!
3° 3° 3° 3° 3° 3°
Jin-gle bells, jin-gle bells,
3° 5° 1° 2° 3°
Jin-gle all the way.
4° 4° 4° 4° 4° 3° 3°
Oh, what fun it is to ride
3° 3° 3° 2° 2° 3° 2° 5°
In a one-horse op-en sleigh, hey!
3° 3° 3° 3° 3° 3°
Jin-gle bells, jin-gle bells,
3° 5° 1° 2° 3°
Jin-gle all the way.
4° 4° 4° 4° 4° 3° 3°
Oh, what fun it is to ride
3° 3° 5° 5° 4° 2° 1°
In a one-horse op-en sleigh.Jingle Bells Letterd Notation
Here is the lettered notation kalimba tab for Jingle Bells.
G E° D° C° G
Dash-ing through the snow
G G G E° D° C° A
In a one-horse op-en sleigh
A F° E° D° B
O'er the fields we go
G° G° F° D° E°
Laugh-ing all the way
G E° D° C° G
Bells on bob-tail ring
G E° D° C° A
Mak-ing spir-its bright
A A F° E° D° G° G° G°
what fun it is to ride and sing
G° A° G° F° D° C°
A sleigh-ing song to-night!
G°
Oh!
E° E° E° E° E° E°
Jin-gle bells, jin-gle bells,
E° G° C° D° E°
Jin-gle all the way.
F° F° F° F° F° E° E°
Oh, what fun it is to ride
E° E° E° D° D° E° D° G°
In a one-horse op-en sleigh, hey!
E° E° E° E° E° E°
Jin-gle bells, jin-gle bells,
E° G° C° D° E°
Jin-gle all the way.
F° F° F° F° F° E° E°
Oh, what fun it is to ride
E° E° G° G° F° D° C°
In a one-horse op-en sleigh.Conclusion
And there we have it! Now you can learn to play Jingle Bells on the kalimba by following this kalimba tab, whether it be using the numbered notation or the lettered notation!
